-Get A Life Girl-
Once at home, Riza had a few phone messages, two gift packages and two letters. She entered her house and crashed on the sofa. Tossing her coat in the closet, boots discard at the door and her hat, scarf and mittens also in the closet, she just stared into her roaring fire which she stared as soon as she entered the house. Her puppy sleeping at her feet, Riza just blocked out the world. She let down her guard during the past week and she needed to re build it up. Her phone rang a few times, and she ignored it. The answering machine picked up and heard he brothers. Each one calling her once, begging her to call them. She ignored them.
Around noon time, she listened to all messages, four from her brothers, one from Havoc and one from the office verifying her transfer and to check in to Eastern tomorrow morning. She flipped through the letters, one card from Gracia and Elisia and one from Roy. She hesitated to read Roy's. On the over it said Merry Christmas with a picture of a Christmas tree lit up next to a fire place. Inside, it read...
""Hope this holiday season brings you comfort and joy.""
It was signed by Colonel Roy Mustang. The writing on the envelope wasn't even his. It was too neat, showing someone else wrote it. She doubted it was even his signature. One last look at the cover and she tossed it into the fire place. She watched it burn slowly. The corners turning brown, curling then turning black, then disappeared into ash. Once that card was gone, she opened the next. It was from Gracia. It had a picture of a little girl building a snowman outside while someone in the window watched. Inside, a picture of Elisia fell out. Riza picked it up and smiled. Elisia was wearing a cute little pink snow suit and was making a snow angle. The card read...
""May all your hopes and dreams come true on this holiday. Wishing you the best this year and next. Merry Christmas and Happy New Years.""
It was signed by Gracia and Elisia's attempt at signing her own name. Riza hung Gracia's card above the fireplace and moved to look at the gifts. A brown package tied with white string was addressed to her. She carefully untied the string and then unwrapped it.
A diamond 'Y' necklace with a two carrot heart shaped stone and six little one carrots sat inside a small wooden jewelry box. Her name was engraved on the top in silver. The box was lined with dark purple velour, a mirror etched with a rose was in the back. There was room for three sets of earrings, three necklaces, one ring and four bracelets. Perfect for what she owned, except the ring. The necklace hung from a small hook to the left. It was so beautiful and looked expensive. She pulled out a small drawer that sat under the main, and found a small card. She opened the envelope and found a candy cane enlarge on the front. The words 'Happy Holidays' Written in perfect cursive with glitter. Inside it read, in hand written words...
""Merry Christmas Riza. Thank you once again for inviting me and my sister to Christmas dinner. The office wont be the same without you around keeping things in order. I will defiantly miss you hanging around. Best wishes in the next year.""
It was signed Jean Havoc. Riza smiled. A smile that brought a tear to her eye. It was the first time someone in her office ever treated her like a human. And not a gun-paperwork-coffee machine. She placed the card back in the drawer and placed the box on her counter. She opened the next gift only to find the photo Gracia took of her and Roy only days ago. It was a beautiful picture. A tree glowing brightly in the background with holly and tinsel next to it on the stairs. Roy looked good in his dress shirt and Riza looked descent in her shirt as well.
It was framed in a red and green Christmas frame. On the back of the frame, Gracia wrote a small note...
""Merry Christmas. As Maes would say, may this picture be good signs of things to come.""
Riza laughed. She placed the picture next to her other pictures. She headed into her room to unpack and reorganize herself. After working in her room for a while, she moved back out to the living room. She stopped at the counter and looked at the gift from Havoc. She stared at it for another minute before walking away and heading to her room. Exaughtion overwhelmed her quickly as she laid don won her bed and soon drifted off to sleep.
Before she knew it, she was waking in morning of the next day. The holidays drained her of all her energy, causing her to sleep the entire day before. She stretched and rose. She walked into the kitchen and fixed breakfast for Hayate. He came to her and was about to start eating
"Wait."
She held up her hand and he sat down.
"Shake. Other paw. Down. Good boy."
Hayate obeyed the commands and then began to eat. Riza took this opportunity to take a quick warm shower. She walked from the bathroom wrapped in her roe and a towel over her head. She began to dry her hair as she walked into her room and found her puppy sleeping in the middle of the beds. She smiled at the sight. As her puppy slumbered, she dressed into her uniform and then finished her preparations in the bathroom. Once she was completely ready, she summoned her dog.
"Hayate. Come boy. Time for work."
She grabbed her purse and winter coat and things. As she headed for the door, she spotted the necklace on the counter. She smiled and opened the box, removing the necklace and putting it on. She looked at it in the mirror in the box and then left. At Eastern HQ, she noticed the doors were already unlocked and people were already arriving, unusual, but nothing to strange. She entered the main lobby and approached the front desk where she pulled out her ID card and swiped it through the security gate card slide. It beeped in rejection and small red light blinked. She was shocked and tried again. It rejected her again. A security guard approached.
"Is everything all right Lieutenant?"
"My card isn't working."
"Let me see."
He took her card and tried it. Yet again it was rejected. He then walked back to his desk and called up another office. After a conversation, he returned to Riza.
"I'm sorry Lieutenant. Your card has been deactivated. something about a transfer?"
"Oh right... I'm sorry."
"That's okay, the General will be down in one moment."
"Thank you."
The guard handed her back her card and disappeared. She waited for the general who arrived shortly after. They walked quietly through the halls and up the stairs. They entered an office on the third floor and she was handed a pen. He usually worked in Central but for transfers, he needed to take a trip to the city of original transfer. She took a seat in front of his desk and carefully signed away at papers. Signing her name, rank and ID number. After ten papers, she was escorted upstairs to the fourth floor. The door to Mustang's office was closed when the General knocked.
"Enter..."
Came a tired voice of Roy. The general opened the door and Riza followed behind him as they entered. Roy jumped to a salute.
"As you were Mustang, Breda, Falman and Fury."
He had them sit back down and then turn to Riza who none of the boys noticed yet.
"I'll wait outside while you pack your things. Just tell me when your ready."
The general left and closed the door. The fur men stared at Riza as she stood, Hayate at her heels. She looked from each boy like nothing was different. Finally, she moved to her desk and began pulling out her personal belongings, placing them in her purse. From her novels, spare keys and other little nick-nacks. Roy was curious.
"Lieutenant, is everything all right?"
"I'm transferring to northern today... sir."
"Why?"
"I need to, sir."
"That doesn't answer my question. Why do you need to Lieutenant?"
"All due respect sir, you are no longer my superior officer."
This took them all by surprise. They stared at her longer as she finished packing. When she finished with her desk, she moved to the small closet and grabbed her umbrella and a few other things. She closed the door and slung the umbrella handle around her arm. She did one last check to make sure she had everything. She walked behind Roy's desk and opened his mini fridge where she removed a plastic container holding dog food. After she placed it in her purse, she stood up and stared out the window for a moment. She could feel Roy standing behind her, close enough she could almost feel his breath on the back of her neck.
"Until you walk from this office, I am still your superior."
Riza closed her eyes. This was enough. she couldn't deal with it any more. She lowered her head and stared down at the street below. Her voice lowered as she answered.
"I may be a strong soldier, but my heart is still fragile and I can't afford to have it broken anymore."
Did she just say that? Roy's eyes widened as Riza turned around, looked into his eyes and then walked past him. Roy hesitated a moment longer before turning around and watching her. She walked back to her desk and grabbed a frame off the top of the desk. it was a picture of her and the other officers she worked with. She placed it in her purse and walked to the door. She placed hr hand on the door and hesitated. She turned her head to the side and closed her eyes.
"Good bye, sir. Breda, Falman, and Fury. Good luck. say goodbye to Havoc for me."
And with said, she opened the door and walked out, closing it behind her. Roy stared at the door. He just let the best thing that ever happened to him walk out that door, and probably for the last time. Out in the hall, Riza leaned against the door for a moment. The general approached and searched her purse. Once she was cleared he escorted her to the front door.
He handed her some papers and information about what she would be doing in Northern. She was going to be promoted to Major the following week and would be in charge of her own crew. She accepted and saluted, walking away from Eastern HQ for the final time in her life.
A/N -
Please review. No FLAMES (Thats Roy's job only). Please look in my profile ooOAnimeChildOoo for all my other stories. And again, thanks for reading.
"Write a wise saying and your name will live forever"
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